Lands End to John O’Groat Mini Run in aid of the Children’s Hospice SW precious lives appeal.

 On Monday 23^rd Of June at 10-30am 16 intrepid Mini will gather at Dartington Crystal in Torrington to start the first leg of the 10^th anniversary Lands End to John O’Groats Mini Run in aid of the CHSW.

 Driving between Lands End and John O’Groats has always been a challenge, having to sit next to your Husband, wife partner or friend for 8 hours a day and for so many days, might even be called a nightmare but doing it in a Mini, with 16 others is about as mad as you can get.

 The journey will take 5 days as they go the long way round and they hope to be in John O’Groats by lunch time on Friday 27^th June.  It is not a race nor is it any type of time trail and the only test is whether the person you started the event with is still sitting next to you at the end. 

 The trip will cover 1000 miles using mainly A & B roads and most nights will be under canvas.  They will be hoping for better weather than last year when 4 of the tents blew down at Westward Ho on the first night and they all ended up soaking wet.

The flooding along the route also tested the minis as the water lapped at the bottom of the doors but they all made it and then they all made it home another 1000 miles

 The minis are very conscious about driving times, and tiredness so they will cover about 250 miles a day with plenty of stops for Breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. They also have plenty of toilet stops on route as well but even after 10 years they will still find themselves lost about 3 times a day.

 Lejog is the first of 3 major events that the North Devon Mini Register organises but over the years the small cars with the big hearts have raised over £220,000 of which £190,000 has been raised for the CHSW.  About 6 years ago they gave the CHSW £6,000 to help pay for the extension to the Messy Play Room at Little Bridge House. Then 2 years ago they gave the CHSW £130,000 to pay for and equip the messy Play Room at Charlton Farm the new Children’s Hospice near Bristol. Now they are going to try and raise enough money to pay for and equip the new Messy Play Room at the new  Children’s Hospice SW being built in Cornwall.